Enrico J. Brinson

Enrico J. Brinson has been awarded an Air Force ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) college scholarship. The cadet was selected on the basis of comprehensive tests scores, high school scholastic achievement, school officials' evaluations, extra-curricular activities, and community involvement. The scholarship is designed to cover the cost of tuition, textbooks, laboratory and incidental fees, and a non-taxable monthly stipend during the school year.

Upon graduating from college and completing the ROTC program, the cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in the Air Force. The new lieutenants select and enter various career fields to train as pilots, navigators, engineers, medical, personnel, business management fields, and special operations.

He is the son of Stacy Brinson of Newport News, Va., and Lora L. Campbell of Aberdeen. Brinson is a 2005 graduate of Pinecrest High School.

Eric R. Galloway

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric R. Galloway, son of Virginia P. and William E. Galloway of Southern Pines, recently deployed on a routine, scheduled deployment, while assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy, homeported in Norfolk, Va.

Galloway's ship deployed along with USS Kearsarge, USS Ashland, USS Ponce and USS Gonzalez, as part of the USS Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike

Group in support of the global war on terrorism and Operations Enduring/Iraqi Freedom.

Galloway is one of more than 350 Sailors serving aboard USS Normandy, an Aegis equipped cruiser able to engage in offensive actions against the

enemy through employment of long-range anti-shipping missiles, land attack missiles and naval gunfire.

Galloway is a 2000 graduate of Pinecrest High School and joined the Navy in December 2002. He is a 2002 graduate of Sandhills Community College.

Curtis V. Iovito

Curtis V. Iovito has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year.

The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $50,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty prior to being assigned to their first permanent duty station.

The recruit qualifies for a $19,000 enlistment bonus.

Iovito, a 2005 graduate of Lee Christian Academy, Sanford, has reported to Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., for active duty.

He is the son of Curtis V. and Dorinda L. Iovito of Cameron.

Michael B. Lucas

Marine Corps Pvt. Michael B. Lucas, a 2004 graduate of Pinecrest High School, recently completed 12 weeks of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.

Lucas and fellow recruits began their training at 5 a. m., by running three miles and performing calisthenics. In addition to the physical

conditioning program, Lucas spent numerous hours in classroom and field assignments which included learning first aid, uniform regulations, combat

water survival, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat and assorted weapons training. They performed close order drill and operated as a small

infantry unit during field training.

Lucas and other recruits also received instruction on the Marine Corps’ core values — honor, courage and commitment, and what the core values mean in guiding personal and professional conduct.

Lucas and fellow recruits ended the training phase with The Crucible, a 54-hour, team evolution culminating in an emotional ceremony in which

recruits are presented the Marine Corps Emblem, and addressed as “Marines” for the first time in their careers.

William H. Stanback

William H. Stanback has joined the United States Army Reserve under the Delayed Training Program.

The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay reporting for basic military training for up to 270 days. An enlistment in the reserve gives many new soldiers the option to learn a new skill, serve their country, and become eligible to receive more than $7,000 toward a college education, $20,000 for repayment of college loans, and a maximum $5,000 cash bonus.

After completion of basic military training, most soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty prior to being assigned to their first permanent duty station.

The recruit qualifies for a $7,000 enlistment bonus.

Stanback, a 1985 graduate of Pinecrest High School, has reported to Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C., for active duty.

He is the son of Harriett A. Stanback of Southern Pines.

David L Strohacker

Army Pvt. David L. Strohacker has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Strohacker is the son of David Strohacker of Cameron, and Donna Taylor of Vass.

He is a 2003 graduate of Union Pines High School.

Christopher Swanson

Christopher B. Swanson has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program. The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year.

The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $50,000 toward a college education. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty prior to being assigned to their first permanent duty station.

The recruit qualifies for a $5,000 enlistment bonus.

Swanson reported to Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo., for active duty on July 7. He is the son of Angi Hardy of Cameron.

Christopher W. Teasley

Army National Guard Specialist Christopher W. Teasley has returned to Fort Polk, Leesville, La., after a one-year deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The soldier is a member of the Louisiana National Guard assigned to the 528th Engineer Battalion (Combat) (Heavy) headquartered in Monroe, with six other line units and detachments based in other cities. The soldier is assigned to Alpha Company based in Winnsboro.

In Afghanistan, unit soldiers performed engineering operations, endured long and arduous duty hours, overcame harsh weather and combat conditions, and displayed a tremendous effort to persevere. Their performed tasks in the combined joint area of operations included assisting a Marine Corps expeditionary unit with the recovery and transportation of cargo/transport helicopter that had experienced a forced landing in the desert. They were challenged with a high priority project to construct a road from Kandahar to Tarin Kowat. The project directed them to plan, coordinate, and construct a 75-mile road through dangerous and restricted terrain into the birthplace of the Taliban. The road provides supply routes and accessibility for Afghanistan's military, restores a valuable trade route between two southern cities in Afghanistan, and improves security, stability and commerce in area communities.

The 528th Engineer Battalion has been recommended to receive the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The award is presented to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct in performance of outstanding services for at least six continuous months during the period of military operations against an armed enemy. Service in a combat zone is not required, but must be directly related to the combat effort.

Teasley is a carpentry and masonry specialist with eight years of military service.